Wrestling: Methaction makes impression, finishes fifth in team points

LIMERICK — In a league as filled with talent as the PAC-10, Methacton can get lost in the shuffle, with schools such as Owen J. Roberts, Boyertown, and Upper Perkiomen often hogging the headlines. However, just because the Warriors do not always get as much as attention as some of those other schools, that does not mean that they should be overlooked and their performance at the PIAA District 1 West tournament on Saturday proved that, as the Warriors finished fifth in overall team points with three wrestlers advancing to next weekend’s regional tournament, most notably Tracey Greene, who won the 285-pound weight class.

“One of the main things our coaches said this year was prove that we belong,” said senior Mike Baccaro, who will advance to next week’s action after finishing second. “We just want to prove that we belong.”

“I think we showed that we can be in that top three or top four of the PAC-10,” said junior Joe Staley, who finished second and is one of the three wrestlers advancing in the postseason. “The PAC-10 is toughest league in the district and we showed that we can hang with the toughest.”

In addition to Staley and Greene advancing, senior Mike Baccaro will also wrestle in next week’s tournament after finishing second and the Warriors came within one point of advancing a fourth wrestler as senior Paul Russo fell in overtime in the consolation finals.

While the success of the Warriors may be a surprise to some observers, head coach A.J. Maida was not surprised at the success his wrestlers had on Friday because he sees the work that the young men put in every day.

“It’s not a secret that guys like Tracey and Michael and Joe and Paul are the guys that put in the time that pays off,” he said.

“I’m really psyched to go back to practice, actually,” Greene said with a chuckle, confirming his coach’s thoughts.

In addition to the three wrestlers from Methacton advancing, several other local schools will also be sending wrestlers to next weekend’s regional tournament, including Perkiomen Valley, who will be sending junior 285-pounder Luke DiElsi, who fell to Greene in the finals, and junior 152-pounder Nick Giangiulio, who lost in heartbreaking fashion by giving up a takedown with less than 10 seconds left in his semifinals bout and had to battle his through the consolation bracket to lock up third place.

“The tough part is just swallowing the loss and getting in your head that you have to move past this. You always have to fight for every last shot if you plan on making it on past this,” said Gianiulio. “I didn’t want a repeat of last year. I wanted to go forward and just keep pushing.”